Following Energy And Being The Question

Thundering hooves pounding the hard, sun-baked earth, along with screaming, high-pitched neighs. The sound moved my body to the window. "What’s going on!?"

Short bursts of galloping with a stop, spin, twist and a buck. Gallop back down the fence-line. The neighbours horse is calm and standing quietly, steadily watching her mate going crazy. More thundering hooves; this time down to the house gate at a flat-out gallop. "Will she stop in time? Yes!" The horse and gate are still in one piece. "Whew! That was close. What’s up with you Chevy?"

I was observing this behaviour through the kitchen window. My horse, now only being five-metres away at the gate, was acting totally bizarre.

Within seconds I was out the back door. Too late! She was gone; a flat-out mad gallop back to the far fence-line where the neighbours horse is quietly observing this odd behaviour. Unlatching the gate I walk through into the paddock. The distinctive, "screech" of the gate-hinge catches Chevy’s attention. She turns, screams a stressful neigh at me, spins around and gallops full-pelt towards me and the gate. "Is she going to stop?" Side-swiping without touching me, in a flurry of dust and hooves, she skids to a halt. With a thud and a rattle her chest makes slight contact with the gate. How she timed that only a horse knows. I felt for sure that the gate and I would be history and Chevy's body broken.

When Animals Speak, He Listens.

“Every time I got on a horse that knew more than I did, I learned about being a better rider.”

How many of us actually need to be taught by our horses instead of trying to command them and force them into doing things? Rather than assuming you’re in control, would you be willing to consider that the thousand plus pounds of horse you’re sitting on is letting you ride it out of their choice?

Gary created Conscious Horse Conscious Rider to improve the performance of the horse and the rider. He leads the classes with humor and practical lessons. As Gary says, “The horses are conscious and it’s the rider that makes the mistakes.” He demonstrates how you can communicate with your horse and suggests you begin by asking them a question. If you use this technique, “Your horse will actually start to do what you ask, because they really want to please you.” Read more...

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Topaz's Miracle

I recently attended a workshop at the private ranch where my husband and I caretake in Goleta, California.The owners have 20 horses they own as pets; seven of which are lame. It was during this workshop that I experienced what I can only describe as a miracle. One of the horses living here had been in many accidents from birth; one of which had her break her tail and another damaged her neck.

As a result of all these injuries, Topaz was unable to turn or lift her head very far – her feeders had to be raised so she didn’t have to bend down. When on pasture, she would have to kneel down to reach food. Not to mention the inability to even flick flies away with her tail. Needless to say she was not able to take care of herself very well and she spent more time lying down or lame, than she did moving. And the other horses would just simply herd her, many times having her miss out on food. Whilst we did what we could to make her comfortable, it was sad to see such a wonderful being have so little movement or freedom in her life.